Cahors is a medieval city in the Southwest of France, known for its beautiful vineyards and its "black" wine. But other than the average Wikipedia facts, what can be said about Cahors? Contrary to popular belief THIS is the home of Malbec wine. There is a reason, however, that it doesn't stand in the spotlight.
In the Middle Ages, this was one of the most popular regions for wine. Geography and lack of technology, however, kept Bordeaux at the forefront. In order for Cahors to transport wine to other countries, it had to stop at the port of Bordeaux, where they didn't allow the boats to come through. The only time Bordeaux allowed shipments was during the winter months, in which it was too cold to be at sea. Cahors had virtually no way around this for several hundred years.

La Villa Cahors Malbec

Thank god for technology, because now we can drink a proper Malbec from anywhere in the world! If you visit this clean, friendly city, stop in La Villa Cahors Malbec for a great tasting. Don't be surprised to walk out of there with black teeth though; these wines are far darker than any you've seen yet.  There are also 10,000 acres of vineyards, that are worth taking a drive through.

If you don't know who Josephine Baker is before you enter Château des Milandes, you will have her image ingrained in your head afterward. The 15th century château located in Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, is a grand memorial to the famous African-American entertainer of the 1920's. Don't expect antique Renaissance décor everywhere, expect a drag queen's dream come true.

Saint-Cirq-Lapopie is incredible. I have never ever seen any other village like this in France. It doesn't even seem real, at least not until you have to walk ridiculous inclined streets, then reality sits in. It is one of the most popular stops in the Lot department and on the list of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France.
This small, medieval town looks over the Lot River and is so high up that your nose could bleed. You need to drive, and you need to bring a big chunk of change to pay for parking. They give you 30 minutes free but it isn't physically possible to visit the town that fast (plus would you really want to?).
Walking the streets is like walking through a museum, everything and anything is historical. It is also extremely overcrowded during the summer months so it is best to visit in May or September. You will want good pictures of this village, I promise.

Fort de Saint-Cirq-Lapopie

In Saint-Cirq-Lapopie there are many shops, restaurants, and attractions. The main attraction is the thirteenth century fort that acted as a defense mechanism for the village. You can hike your way up to the top! It's breathtaking, unless you're afraid of heights then in that case it's the worst thing you'll ever encounter.

All I have to say is WOW! Beaumont-du-Périgord is right out of a dream. It's an Anglo-Saxon's picture-perfect piece of France. I say picture because although you see France, all you hear is English! The Brits love the Dordogne for this exact reason--it is breathtaking.
It's a rather small village, so it is a great stop if your touring the area and want some quick, framing-worthy photos.

Here's what to see:

1. La Bastide

Saint-Émilion is one of those whimsical French villages taken right out of a painting. The town is small, quaint, beautiful, and one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. Let's not forget its surrounded by nearly 13,000 acres of vineyards and 1,000 years of history. If you own land in this appellation, you're the big cheese... big, big, smelly, delicious cheese.

Château Villemaurine

The village itself is jam-packed with tourists. If you go during the off-season (January-March) you can just about skip through the streets untouched, but with the weather conditions the vineyards are not much to see. During any other month it is extremely crowded. Saint-Émilion is a popular destination for Bordeaux wines, arguably THE most popular next to the Medoc region.

Mathieu at Maison du Vin

For reasonable wine prices (for St. Émilion that is) as well as technical education on vines, visit Maison du Vin. You'll be surprised how much there is to learn! Mathieu and I had fun here at their exposition in which you can smell different scents within the wine, and guess what it is. Let's just say I was useless at this game, and couldn't tell the difference between licorice and vanilla.

Château du Roi (King's Tower)

Monolithic Church

Above ground there are numerous ruins as well. My favorite is the Monolithic Church. Its an impressive architectural design, made from solid rock and having 196 stairs to climb to see its beautiful bell tower (have fun with that). The date of it is still unknown, however, it is estimated to have been built between the 12th-16th centuries.

Defensive Walls

In regards to food there are some of the best chefs in the region here. If you have the money there are several upscale places to mange at, a popular one being L'Huitrier-Pie. There are, however, equally as scrumptious options outside of the appellation that will not suck your wallet dry. Even ordering a bottle of table wine in Saint-Émilion will be nearly double the shelf price.
Visit the village, take as many pictures as possible, buy a bottle of wine at Maison du vin, and go find a nice open spot to enjoy it. Its a cute, little place to picnic, and you can't find a more delicious buzz! And if you are considering doing a vineyard visit, check out Château Angélus (pictures and wine critique on Mathieu's blog here).

A small, old village, a ruined castle, and a little marina, nothing too exciting right? Wrong. Gruissan might be tiny, but it's most certainly mighty. It is the perfect summertime party spot. The population of Gruissan in the summer more than doubles and the restaurants, bars, and clubs are packed.